Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Facebook & infertility

Is there a place for infertile couples on Facebook?

I couldn't help asking that question after reading a Washington Post article that describes the pain infertile women feel upon reading people's pregnancy updates on Facebook.

An excerpt:

Now, when more than a half-billion people use Facebook, couples yearning for children say they are trapped: They are unwilling to detach from the social network, but unable to avoid its frequent reminders - fetal sonograms are seemingly ubiquitous - of what might elude them forever.

It's interesting to read the comments that accompany Jezebel's take on the article. Why? There's a growing consensus that Facebook functions mainly to help people create idealized versions of themselves. We accept this reality, but still get depressed while checking our friends' profiles.

I'm guilty as charged. You?